♦ Campbelltown has won the rights to three more Pacific Test Match Invitational fixtures for 2018, 2020 and 2022.
It was not clear why Campbelltown Sports Stadium missed out for 2019, but three years is still a good result for our great venue.
The Pacific Test Match Invitational was played there for the first time earlier this year and it was a huge success.
Campbelltown Council has now announced next year’s event – on Saturday, June 23 – will be bigger and better, with three games on the card.
We don’t know yet two of the teams taking part, but the other four are Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and for the first time, that other “Pacific’’ powerhouse, Lebanon.
The Lebanon participation seems a little left field, but be that as it may, rugby league fans should mark the date in their calendar now.
Council is even suggesting they start booking their tickets now, which is not a bad idea, considering this year was a sellout.
Tickets include entry to all three matches, with club member adult tickets from $12 and family tickets from $35.
General public tickets are on sale now, with adult tickets from $15 and family tickets from $45.
To purchase tickets, head to www.nrl.com/tickets
xxxxx
♦ More than 13 months after the local government election, there’s some concern that Campbelltown Council is paying the price for a huge turnover of councillors.
Eight new councillors in a chamber of 15 has meant a big loss of corporate memory, which is affecting some long term issues, according to our sources.
“Some of these new councillors just have no idea about some of the older issues,’’ one source said.
However our sources tell us that some people inside council are more worried about what will happen if more experienced councillors like Meg Oates and Paul Lake give it away at the next elections in 2020 and more newbies occupy their seats at the big table in the council chamber on the third floor.
xxxxx
♦ On some things at least old and new councillors seem to team up, as Cr Lake and Cr Ben Gilholme (who got elected in a byelection earlier this year) did in getting council meetings scheduled changed.
Meetings have been held twice a month since the election, but they have been getting shorter and shorter.
Cr Lake has been arguing for a while that there’s not much point having two when one a month would be more than sufficient.
He moved a motion to that effect at the last meeting, which was second by the young Labor councillor.
It was carried when put to the councillors, so it means there’s just two meetings left in 2017, on November 28 and December 12.
xxxxx
♦ If you’re a school leaver considering a career in aviation or just interested in learning to become a private or recreational pilot don’t miss the open day of Sydney Flight College at Bankstown Airport this Sunday, November 19 from 9am to 4pm.
For more details visit the colleges Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/sydneyflightcollege/
xxxxx
♦ Good to see that one of Liverpool’s oldest buildings, its original courthouse in Bigge Street, has finally been added to the State Heritage Register.
Should have been done many years ago, but better late than never.
xxxxx
♦ And still on our neighbours in Liverpool, what a bolt from nowhere was the announcement that detectives investigating the fire that destroyed the council chambers on Hoxton Park Road in 2010 have reopened the case.
Strike Force Gideon was established by detectives from the Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspicious fire, which subsequently produced almost as many conspiracy theories as the JFK assassination.
It seems Strike Force Gideon has recently received new information about a possible motive for the fire, and they are seeking further information from the public.
Detectives have been told the fire may have been lit following a dispute over a council-issued fine.
We’ll keep you posted.
xxxxx
♦ Vennessa Tompkins, the Aboriginal community liaison at the Campbelltown police local area command took out the IJ (Irene Juergens APM) Fellowship Award at the 2017 Rotary police officer of the year honours.
Ms Tompkins has been the driving force behind a program designed specifically to target young Aboriginal girls who are disengaged or at risk of taking the wrong path in life.
